Luggage carrier



J. F. WHITEHEAD LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed Oct. 29, 1923 QMMMM Jjxaz er W 1121 OZ Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES FRAZER WHITEHEAD, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 'ro xA ns STAMP- ING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

LUGGAGE oarmmn.

Application filed October 29,1923. Serial 110,671,538.

To all whom it may concern: a

Be it known that I, JAMES FRAZER VI-UTE- HEAD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of WVayne and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Luggage Carriers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to supports and refers more particularly to devices for retaining articles on said supports.

An object of the invention is to provide a light and practical device that may be quickly attached to or removed from a suitable support such as a running board of a vehicle upon which articles may be placed to be carried thereby.

Another object is to provide a device which may be quickly and easily set up for use when attached to the running board for preventing the accidental displacement of articles thereon and which may be readily collapsed when not in use so as to occupy a position substantially flush with theouter edge of the running board so that it will not interfere with the use of the running board for other purposes and will not be noticeable to the casual observer.

Another object is to provide a device that is preferably formed of sections which are so arranged and constructed that one section may be used, ifdesired, while the other section is collapsed. i

Another object is to provide a device that is preferably in the form of a rack having all of the parts thereof mounted upon a common support which in turnmaya be either rigidly or detachably secured to the support. a a a Another object is to provide a single member for connecting the sections of the rack and for holding the same in upright position. a

Another object isto provide a strong and durable rack that is simple in construction and that can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

Vith the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, comblnation and arrangement of parts as will be more fully 7 described and particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rack embodying my invention attached to the running board of a vehicle;

F igure2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing one section collapsed;

F igure 3 1s a perspective view of my rack when collapsed at the outer edge of the 7 running board;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is asectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Referring 110w to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 designates a collapsible rack having a relatively long supporting bar 2 that is preferably mounted upon the running board of a vehicle. The bar 2 is preferably equal in width to the outer edge 1 of the running board and is pref? erably attached thereto by means of a pair of U-shaped brackets 5 that are rigidly secured to the bar 2 adjacent to the ends thereof and that are adapted to be clamped by the bolts6 upon the running board.

For retaining articles on the running )oard, I preferably provide a series of links 7 that are pivotally connected at one end to the bar 2 at spaced points thereof and that are adapted to support a series of top rails 8. The outer rails. 9 are preferably connected at one end. by suitable pivots 10 to the end links '11 and are connected at their other end by suitable pivots 12 to the inner rails 13 and to the intermediate links 1%. The link 15 preferably divides the attachment into two sections .16 and 17 respectively which are preferably connected. together by means of a flat lug 18 that projects rearwardlyfrom one edge of the link 15 at the upper end thereof and that eX- on the tends through elongated transversely extending openings 19 in the inner rails 13 at the free ends thereof. A suitable pin 20 is preferably inserted through an opening 21 in the lug 18 at the free end thereof to hold the rails 13 in engagement therewith. In view of the fact the lug18 is fiat and engages elongated openings that extend transversely of the rails 13, the links will be held in upright position when the sections 16' and 17 are connected.

\Vhen it is desired to collapse the r ack,

the lug 18 is disengaged from the openings 19 in the rails 13, whereupon thesections may be collapsed by swinging the links 11 and let inwardly toward the center link 15. This link is preferably supported in lowered position by the lug 18 that engages the up permost edge of the adjacent rail 13.

In order that the rack, ivhen collapsed, will occupy a position that is substantially flush with the outer edge of the running board, I preferably provide a series of U- shaped brackets 22 that are rigidly secured to the outerface of the bar 2 at spaced points thereof and that are adapted to support the links and rails of both sections as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing; "lhese brackets are preferably equal in depth to the width of the bar 2. r

If desired, one section may be collapsed, whereupon the lug 18 is then inserted in the opening 19 in the rail 13 of the other section to hold that section in upright position.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that I have provided a rack that is very simple in construction; that is adapted tubeset up on 'a suitable support such as a running board for providing additional luggage space upon a vehicle; and that is composed of sections which are adapted to be independently collapsed so as to become practically a part ofthe running board. Thus, the rack does not -detract from the appearance of the vehicle. v

lVhile it is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily'apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myselfto what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope 'of what is claimed.

lVhat I claim as my invention is: i

1. In a rack, a bar, a series of links pivotally connected to said bar at spaced points thereof, inner and outer rails, means for pivotally connecting the outer rails to the end links, means for pivotally connecting the outer and inner rails to the intermediate links, and means upon the center link for detachably connecting the inner rails together.

2. In a rack, a bar, a series of links pivot ally connected to said bar at spaced points thereof, inner and outer rails, means for pivotally connecting the outer rails to the end links, means for pivotally connecting the outer and inner rails to the intermediate links, the inner rails having elongated openings therein, and means upon the center linkengageable with said openings for conh'ecting said inner rails and toiholdiiig the links in upright position.

3. In a rack, a bar, a series of links pivotally connected to said bar at spaced points thereof, inner and outer rails, means for pivotally connecting the outer rails to the end links, means for pivotally connecting the outer and inner rails to the intermediate links, the inner rails having elongnited openings therein, and a projection upon said center link engageable with said openings for connecting said inner rails and for holding the links in upright position.

4. In a collapsible rack, a bar, a series of links pivotally connected to said bar at spaced points thereof, inner and outer rails, for pivotally connecting the outer rails to the end links, means for pivotally connecting the outer and inner rails to the intermediate links, means upon the center link for 'detachably connecting the inner rails together. and brackets secured to said bar for holding said links and rails when collapsed.

5. A luggage carrier for motor vehicles including a supporting her located at the outer. edge of the running board of the. vehicle, a pair of rails, each rail having an opening therein, links supporting said rails from said bar, an intermediate 'link', a tongue projecting from the intermediate link engagea ble with the openings in said rails, and "a pin engageable with the tongue for holding said rails together.

6. A luggage carrier for "motor vehicles including 'a supporting bar located at the outer edge of the runningboard of the vehicle, upstanding links pivotally connected to said her, 'rai'ls'connected to the upper ends ofsaid links, an intermediate upstanding link, and means carried by the intermediate link, for detachably connecting said rails together.

7. In a collapsible luggage carrier, the combination with a supporting bar, o a link pivoted thereto, links pivoted to said bar upon opposite sides of the first link, and rails pivoted to the last mentioned links having the free ends thereof detachably secured -to the first link.

8. In a collapsible luggage carrier, the combination with a supporting bar, of a link pivotally connected thereto, a rail pivoted to the link, and a second link pivoted to the supporting bar detachably connected to said rail.

9. In a collapsible luggage carrier, the combination with a supporting bar, of a link pivot-ally connected at its lower end to said bar, a rail pivoted at one end to the upper 5 end of said link having a slot therein at its free end, and a second link pivoted. at its lower end to the supporting hal having a projection at its upper end engaging the slot aforesaid, and means engaging said projection detachably connecting the last mentioned link to said rail.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

J. FRAZER \VHTTEHEAD. 

